Lake Havasu City: Suspect Dives Into Colorado River After Nearly $500,000 Train Heist Leads to Arrests

A River Escape Ends in Arrest

A suspected train burglar jumped into the Colorado River to escape police near Lake Havasu City last week. The dramatic arrest was the climax of a multi-agency investigation that recovered nearly $500,000 in stolen cargo, authorities said.

The case began on the morning of June 25 along Interstate 40 near Yucca. Mohave County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a suspicious box truck parked near railroad tracks. Officers found the vehicle hidden in a ravine with its doors open and shipping boxes scattered across the desert floor.

"Officers approached the vehicle and found it unoccupied and disabled. Several boxes, which had been removed from a container of a passing train, were found stacked and strewn around the area," the Mohave County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety provided air support from a Kingman Ranger helicopter as deputies established a perimeter. Investigators determined the goods had been taken from a passing BNSF freight train. The merchandise recovered at the first site was valued at $194,240.

Two Suspects Booked in Mohave County

Detectives expanded the investigation to include BNSF Police, Homeland Security, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, and La Paz County Sheriff's Office. The collaboration led to a traffic stop farther south on Highway 95 near milepost 147.

La Paz County deputies pulled over a second box truck. During the stop, a passenger fled the vehicle and dove into the Colorado River. The La Paz County Sheriff's Office boating division captured the suspect in the water.

The driver of the second truck was found with the title to the abandoned vehicle from the ravine scene. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the second truck and discovered it was loaded with stolen cargo matching the items taken from the train. That second haul was valued at $295,680.

The two suspects were identified as:

• Gabriel Eusebio Coronel-Guerrero, 22, of Mexico
• Angel Isaac Ochoa, 21, of Mesa

Both men were transported to Lake Havasu City and booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility. They face felony charges of burglary, theft, and trafficking stolen property, according to the sheriff's office.

Part of a Growing Trend

The arrest marks the second major train burglary reported in Arizona this month. A separate incident near Meteor Crater on May 29 resulted in the recovery of more than $500,000 in stolen cargo, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Together, the two cases bring June recoveries close to $1 million.

Coconino County detectives told FreightWaves they are seeing between eight and 12 train burglary events per month in the region. The outlet reported that law enforcement agencies are discussing a formal Northern Arizona railway task force to coordinate with BNSF, Homeland Security, and state police.

"BNSF has pushed for stronger prosecutions to ensure these criminals are held responsible," FreightWaves reported, citing industry pressure for tougher penalties in cargo theft cases.

The Mohave County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains active. Officials are asking anyone with video, photos, or information to contact the department. Anonymous tips can be submitted online through Mohave County.